Illinois notebook: No decision on men’s basketball redshirts

Illinois basketball coach Bruce Weber isn't close to making a decision on redshirting, even with the exhibition season starting Wednesday against Quincy (8 p.m., Big Ten Network).

John Supinie

Illinois basketball coach Bruce Weber isn't close to making a decision on redshirting, even with the exhibition season starting Wednesday against Quincy (8 p.m., Big Ten Network).

The decision is so hard for Weber that he might not have it made when the regular season begins Nov. 11 against Northeastern.

"We may talk to them,'' Weber said. "The early part of the season, we may keep (them) out and see what happens.''

Ideally, Weber would like to redshirt two players among the three freshmen forwards -- Riverton's Mike Tisdale of Riverton, Bill Cole of Peoria Richwoods and Virginian Mike Davis. Players are eligible to redshirt after playing in the exhibition games, so the two-game season may go a long way in determining Weber's plans.

Or he just might wait. Nine years ago, the Illini pulled the redshirt off Damir Krupalija eight games into the season.

Cole, Davis and Tisdale all need more strength, especially on defense, while they all have offensive skills. Davis still appears a likely redshirt, although his development over the previous two weeks left Weber wondering. During Sunday's Orange and Blue scrimmage, the freshman trio played well in short spurts.

Cole (11 points, two rebounds, 20 minutes), Tisdale (eight points, five rebounds) and Davis (eight points, five rebounds) appeared to get more done than redshirt freshman forward Richard Semrau, who is attempting to bounce back from season-ending surgery last winter. Sophomore Brian Carlwell will play because the Illini may need his bulk as a backup to senior center Shaun Pruitt.

Davis is the most athletic among the freshman forwards. Tisdale has remarkable skills for a 7-foot-1 center-forward. Cole's versatility and defense would have put him on the court for the Canadian exhibition trip had it not been for a separated shoulder. But the youngsters have trouble stringing good days together.

"Somebody looks good, then they don't,'' Weber said.

Weber's desire to redshirt two players doesn't include Jamar Smith, a veteran guard sitting out the season.

NFL decision

Junior running back Rashard Mendenhall will consider a jump to the NFL after this season, he said after the 28-17 win over Ball State Saturday.

"You know, that's always in the back of your mind,'' Mendenhall said. "You want to do that, but as of right now I just want to play the season and focus on the season and then look back and weigh your options.''

Mendenhall has 1,113 yards and 12 touchdowns, and the added 20 pounds made the 5-foot-11, 225-pounder a more bruising and durable back this season. Mendenhall will consider his draft status with his family after the season.

"You can't play football for a long time,'' he said. "It's going to end, so you've got to try and weigh all options. After the season there's going to be plenty of time to decide what we're all going to do.''

The Mendenhall family is tight. Rashard's brother, Walter, is an Illini reserve running back. His mother, Sibyl, moved from the Chicago area to Champaign.

"I think people are already talking to my mother, but we're all saying we're going to defer everything until after the season,'' Mendenhall said. "Having my mom here this year has been a great help.''

Big Ten network

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany had little concern for people who haven't switched from cable television to a satellite service. Point fingers at the league or big cable providers, but Delany's comments were interesting in the public-relations battle between the giants.

"There is a group of fans I'm really sympathetic towards,'' Delany said. "Those who don't have a view of the southwest sky and those in apartments or condominiums who don't have a choice. That's a small group. That's 10 percent.

"Ninety percent can change their provider. I feel bad about the 10 percent. We're not going back to ESPNU or ESPN360 or CSTV. We're going to build a national network and eventually we're going to get greater distribution. Whether it happens today or tomorrow, this is a 20-year venture. We're going to build it over time.''